Fun Day Sunday: Team Canada Wins Gold!!!!

by Lisa Ovens

Just a fast post...

Both Team Canada and Team USA worked their butts off to give us fans a hell of a Hockey game, and that's exactly what we got! Thank you :o)

Congrats to Team Canada on the overtime win! Congrats to Sidney Crosby for the OT goal!  I can already see the next Timbits Hockey commercial ;o)

I have a new hockey crush on Rick Nash...he's my pick for Canada's MVP!

And Roberto Luongo you did Vancouver proud! You are part of the biggest championship win this city has possibly ever seen. We believed in you...

Team USA, you went undefeated until today...you will be a force to reckon with in Sochi, 2014 (let's hope the NHL'ers will be there). Good game, and great tournament!

Woot!! Team Canada!!!

Kay...now I have to get ready for the closing ceremony

Happy Funday, Sunday everybody :o)

In Loving Memory...

Across this country, my big family is sad as we lost a wonderful aunty. My Aunty Nellie passed away this morning with her immediate family at her side. She cared so much for her family and I was so lucky to have her look out for me as well.


I will miss you, Aunty Nellie...you are our angel now.

USA vs. Finland...Slovakia vs Canada...Lisa vs. the Olympics

by Lisa Ovens

USA vs. Finland might be better described as Mikka Kiprosoff vs. himself. I walked into Saxony House in Stanley Park to see the game at 6-0 for the USA. Patrons more interested in the beer and tasty food than the game on TV.

Walked back to downtown, heading for the Caldron. A good steady rain fell as joggers ran by me. (Must start jogging, but after the Olympics I thought. It seems like everything is about "after the Olympics" now).

Reached the caldron, and yes, it was still packed with people snapping pics in the rain. Ducked into the Shaw Tower and checked the game on lobby TV.  A relaxed looking Ryan Miller was on the bench at this point as Tim Thomas took over the reigns in goal. Oops, the Finns scored, 6-1. That was it for the Finns.

Walked up to the Canadian Mint Pavillion, and "no medals for you!" because the line is way too long for me today. I did hear it might remain open for awhile after the Olympics. This is the first time in Olympic history the medals are available for spectators to touch and it's a big, big draw.

Walked the crowds of Granville Street to check mood of the city: it felt relaxed, as relaxed as my hair feels from the humid air and steady rain. This is a good feeling because of Team Canada vs. Team Slovakia. I have highly tuned senses when it comes to big games in this city, and today it felt perfect.

"Let's try Russia House" I thought knowing it would be a mad house and another long line. It was, but it sure looks exciting from the outside. "Maybe I should just wait four years and go to the actual Russia".

I visit the Right to Play Pavilion and was charmed by all of the play going on inside in the white walls.

Respect.

 Fair play.

  Inclusion...

"When children play the world wins"

this is all so true

http://www.righttoplay.com/

Saskatchewan, Maison Du Quebec and Ontario House, line up, line up and line up. But everyone is smiling so it's all okay. What wasn't okay: my feet. I was having an equipment malfunction: wrong socks with right boots. My feet were hurting, but I was easily distracted by this curious hat...

and this Inukshuk city that changes daily...

and three guys that needed their photo taken by a 2010 Vancouver banner (I took a great pic for them :o)
Time to head home and change footware; passed hundreds of happy Olympic enthusiasts along the way.

Team Canada will win.

And they did. But the end of the third? I did not realize my heart was pounding in my chest until the human snake and shake that sent Team Slovakia to Slovakia House, and Team Canada onto a date with Team USA for the Gold Medal game.

Canadian Girl Caught Saying "Aboot"...Twice!

by Lisa Ovens

Okay, we've all heard this before: Americans insist when a Canadian says the word "about" it sounds like we are saying "aboot". Well, when I was chatting with Paul and Chris at Utah House, Paul pointed out "Hey you just said "aboot". I disagreed. But as the conversation continued I did it again, and Paul was right: I said "aboot!"

I can't believe this, but I am a Canadian that pronouces "about" as "aboot". I am not afraid to admit this.

And I am not sure if this can be corrected.

Utah House Party 2010

by Lisa Ovens

Okay, I went to Utah House Party tonight and met some hard core Olympic peeps. I was too busy signing books and making new friends that my best photo was this one of the cake!

We now know Oprah bought up quite a few red mittens to give away on her show. Well tonight I met some dude that bought 80 pairs of mittens! Next to Oprah, I know of no other to buy more than eighty of the cheerful hand cozies to give away as gifts to friends. The dude's name was Dave, and his friends are going to love the gift mitts!

Tonight, it became quite apparent to me as to why it's called "The Olympic Movement". An Olympic event happens in a city, citizens become involved, and then they are swept up in the fun and move on to the next one, either through employment or as a spectator. Either way their are super enthusiasts, and the host of the party, Everen T. Brown has made Vancouver 2010 his eleventh Olympics! This was a perfect opportunity for people from Utah to get together and share stories and laughs.

Thanks Everen for a terrific party. It's was awesome for me to meet some of Utah's finest sports enthusiasts and new Olympic friends because I have a feeling I am going to be swept away by this five ringed wave!

Congratulations Team Canada: Women's Hockey Gold Medal Champs!!!

2002, 2006 and now 2010 Gold Medalists!!!

2010 and High Heels Wednesday Photos: The Olympic Caldron

by Lisa Ovens

This was not the first time I saw the caldron. The first visit's photos are trapped on my sick laptop. However, this is a special take on Vancouver 2010 Olympic caldron because of where I was: On the 11th floor of the Shaw Tower in the Canfund Athlete's House. I was honoured to be invited to visit Canfund's house, and I am preparing a full column about it's importance.

 In brief, Jane Roos, founder of Canfund has helped fill a gap in financial support for Canadian Athletes since 1997. The Athete's house is a warm, comfortable place for Canadian Athlete's and their families to relax and enjoy the games together. Please visit Canadian Athletes Now website and see the great things they do, and check back for my full report on this wonderful house this weekend.

The crowds surrounding the Caldron appear lighter, but it is still a very big draw for city Olympic related destinations. To the right of the Caldron lies the International Broadcast Centre, and if you look at the top photo you'll see the location of the floating Olympic Rings. The rings are gold in color whenever Canada wins a gold medal.

A Funny Photo...

I can't help but chuckle at the Team Canada's goal tender, Roberto Luongo's floating face just behind TSN's James Duthie. Not sure who made those signs (so far I've seen two), but there are cute...let's hope we see them on Sunday!

Wonderful Wednesday for Team Canada

by Lisa Ovens

Today is going down in Canadian History as Wonderful Wednesday: four medals, and a much needed win for Team Canada in Men's Hockey. It wasn't just a win, but a win over Team Russia. This game was the subject of many conversations, even before Canada beat the Germans. I have to say on my Olympic travels today, leading up to the game, the feeling about the city was calmer than I expected. That was a good sign.

Everyone should be happy to see certain players step up their game (Boyle, Perry, Getzlaf). With seven goals and plenty of CDN players chipping in, well, that's what I was my hoping for Tuesday night before sleep. I thoiught the game would be a closer affair, but I'll take the 7-3 win, and say see you in Sochi 2014, Team Russia!

I think some people are wondering where Sidney Crosby is, and well, I am hoping he's saving up some amazing moves for the Semi's (and hopefully the Gold Medal game), especially for those moments when we need him the most.

 And there will be those moments.

And speaking of Tuesday night, I went to the late game featuring Norway and Slovakia, and that too was an exciting game. Norway, not exactly known for hockey, but hangs in there nonetheless, was so hungry for the win, and they really kept Slovakia on their toes. Both teams were well represented in the crowd, with the rest of us chiming in on the cheering. However, Norway really seemed to win over the neutral fans and I think they found a little place in our hearts. In the end Slovakia would be the team moving on to the Quarter Finals, final score 4-3.

There was a moment of drama as Slovakian player, Lubos Bartecko took an elbow and hit the ice, sustaining a serious head injury. I could not believe the speed at which his helmet travelled as he was hit. This is yet another reminder about keeping the chin strap tight on your helmet. I hear he is doing okay, and I hope for a speedy recovery for the guy.

Super Sunday for Team USA

by Lisa Ovens

How's that for some Olympic swag?  "Team USA grinds out victory over Canada " so says tsn.ca. And the above souvenir ice scraper could almost say a similar thing as well. But Team USA didn't have to scrape by thanks to a crazy empty net goal scored by Ryan Kesler in the dying moments of the 3rd period: final score 5-3. USA hockey fans are thrilled with this win, and should be gaga over Ryan Miller's work in the crease. Talk about Miller time!

Team USA wins group A and secures their spot in the Quarter Final. On the Other hand,  Team Canada has an good opportunity to pull it together in the Qualification Playoffs on Tuesday and possibly settle into underdog mode for the Quarter Final round.

The red swarm of fans moving into Canada Hockey Place late this afternoon was a spectacular sight. Perhaps this loss will settle the masses down a little; bring us back to earth if only for Monday.  But only until the women's tournament heats up with Semi Final action. Team USA will be playing on the 30th anniversary of the  Miracle on Ice. And Team Canada will take on Team Finland. We know our girls will be prepared for this game, but I really like this quote from the Finn's goaltender Noora Raty...

"We can't lose that game 10-0. It's so bad for women's hockey. We have to play a good game and show everybody women's hockey belongs to the Olympics."

I like that attitude...we want a closer game, an exciting game, but with Canada as the team to head to the goal medal game ;o)

22 Feb 12:00 pm Women's Playoffs Semifinals United States vs. Sweden


22 Feb 5:00 pm Women's Playoffs Semifinals Canada vs. Finland

  Go Team Canada GO!!

Holland Heineken House and Me...

by Lisa Ovens

I am still feeling the effects from my time spent at Holland Heineken House on Friday. It was the "Hockey & High Heels House" party, and let's just say I really showed up. As a long time lover of Heineken Beer, it was my night to shine in the happening house at the O Zone.

It's funny but today I read some reviews of HHH, and I was surprised at some of the negativity I saw. From the gate keepers, to the Lodge Restaurant staff, to the bands on stage, I was happy with their service. And those tiny glasses of beer? Well for my small hands they were perfect (don't ask me how many I drank though).

I should say we had dinner reservations, so we were able to by pass waiting in line, and I am sure the perpetual line up in front of HHH might contribute to a negative experience. But here's something people should know...2010 Vancouver's Holland Heineken House is one of the most popular ones ever (and HHH has been an Olympic staple since 1992) Check out this quote...

"We try to make operations as smooth as possible, but we've been embraced by Canada and overwhelmed at times. This is one of the most popular Heineken Houses ever." - Heineken spokesman Freek de Wetta
click here for the full article, Molson Hockey House vs. Holland Heineken House

We dined and drank. We drank and danced. We danced and laughed and made some new friends. The band, De Coronas really contributed to the party atmosphere, and those adorable $15 dollar orange hats have something to do with the fun loving, upbeat mood as well.

So happy I made that reservation last month!

Train ride home was a riot - our car sang three songs  Oh Canada, This land is Your Land, and an instrumental rendition of the theme from Hockey Night in Canada.

Martin Brodeur, Angela Ruggiero: Olympic Level Health and Attitude

                               photo: Lisa Ovens
                        
by Lisa Ovens

As I watch the Winter Olympics, I am reminded about the fitness level our athletes have achieved before they even get close to winning a medal. Not to mention the mental side of competition.


A gold medal goalie and a gold/ sliver medal defenseman know about the pressure they face as their Olympic tournaments move forward. Here are two hockey player quotes from GE's Healthymagination presser and Healthy Heroes skate on Friday morning. Then I get a little ranty near the end...
 
 "When you go out every day to perform, you have to take care of yourself. A healthy lifestyle is not just exercise or eating right, it's an attitude as well." Martin Brodeur Team Canada

Everyone is pretty much saying today's men's ice hockey game between Team Canada and Team USA will be like a "TSN Turning Point" in the men's tournament, or a possible pairing for the gold medal game.
It also promises to be a physical affair, with Canadian fans hoping their team will pick up that part of their game for Team USA. One thing I am confident in is Brodeur and his "attitude". Let's hope that winning attitude will rub off on the defenders in front of him (Yeah, I'm talking about you, Pronger).

 "I always have this incredible team of doctors, physical therapists and nutritionists to support me. A program like healthymagination gives all of us the tools and support to help achieve those goals." -Angela Ruggiero, defenseman, Team USA

Angela Ruggiero and her teammates are tied with Team Canada at nine points. As much as we've seem some exciting games between more evenly match teams in the women's tournament, everyone is patiently waitng for Canada and USA to meet.  Will that temporarily shut up the sports media pundits crying for "mercy rules" and the women's game to be dropped from the Olympics? Probably not.
 
When it comes to Olympic hockey, I consider female hockey players to be "the unsung healthy heroes".

Not only do female hockey players have to be in top physical condition, they apparently need an extra layer  of mental toughness to block out the predominately male sports media criticizing them during the Olympics and then ignoring them for four years. I swear... it's like clockwork.

Star Athletes Chat: GE's Healthymagination at Vancouver Olympics

by Lisa Ovens


Just a few pics for now...heading out to the Ozone. Above photo is from the press conference...

Martin Brodeur, Goalie, Team Canada Men’s Ice Hockey

Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, Figure Skating
Michelle Kwan, Two-time Olympic medalist, Figure Skating
Angela Ruggiero, Alternate Captain and Defenseman, Team USA Women’s Ice Hockey
Dr. Jack Taunton, VANOC Chief Medical Officer
Mike Barber,Vice President, healthymagination, GE




Below photos are of Angela Ruggiero, Alternate Captain Team USA Women's Hockey. This is her fourth Olympic Games.

Canada Hockey Place Rocks with Shoot Out Thrills!

by Lisa Ovens

If anything, Thursday night's shootout victory for Team Canada should help the team realize a little adversity now is going to be good for them in the long run. It's going to take time for the team to gel, and a victory like this one should help speed up the process. And if we come up against another hot goal tender, like we did tonight with Switzerland's  Jonas Hiller, well the boys will just have to be that much hotter.

I can't tell you how great it is to see Sidney Crosby on our side! After several years of watching Sid the Kid highlights packages, catching some of his games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and reading columnist Jan Snyder's reports on the guy, I real feel like he's one of my guys now...and he came through when we needed it the most. I called Jan after the game and she commented on the high stick Crosby received in the third... " He's not the one you want to make bleed. That makes him very angry and he raises his game." 

I have a friend who's been enjoying the views from the Premier Lounge on level 500 of Canada Hockey Place, and he said tonight the lounge was actually alive for once...every other game the loungers have been on the reserved side. Come on Premier Loungers...this is freakin' Olympic Hockey...it's only going to get more tense with each game...cheering, celebrating and reacting will help ease the stress!

I missed the entire Russia /Slovakia game, save for the shoot out and all I have to say is...Pavel Demitra, this Canuck fan wants to see you score like that every game when the NHL season resumes!

Media Outing for Lisa on Friday

by Lisa Ovens

Providing I don't sleep in, I will be attending a special event at Robson Square Friday morning. It's the kick off to  GE's Year of Better Health, and just check out the healthy people featured at this event...

Martin Brodeur, Goalie, Team Canada Men’s Ice Hockey

Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, Figure Skating
Michelle Kwan, Two-time Olympic medalist, Figure Skating
Angela Ruggiero, Alternate Captain and Defenseman, Team USA Women’s Ice Hockey
Dr. Jack Taunton, VANOC Chief Medical Officer
Mike Barber,Vice President, healthymagination, GE

 The above athletes will participate in a skating demonstration followed by a Q & A with an expert panel.
I will provide a re-cap on this event later. I imagine I will be inspired to commit to a healthier lifestyle...but after my night at Holland Heineken House!
 

2010 Olympic Hockey Tid Bits

by Lisa Ovens

The Olympic Welcome Song

Let's start with a hilarious video from Bloge Salming titled The Olympic Welcome Song....



Hahaha! Gotta watch that one a few times to get all of the great hockey references and humor.


Molson Hockey House Dominates...on Craigslist

As I type there are four pages of Molson Hockey House tickets for sale on Vancouver's Craigslist.


Team USA and the Ryans

This is a neat little hockey sidebar: Team USA has seven players with the name Ryan. (actually one of them is a last name) Coach Ron Wilson has some sorting out to do. How to you keep them all straight in your head? My suggestion....give them color names, just like in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. Now who will wind up with Mr. Pink??? Ryan Malone, Ryan Suter, Ryan Miller, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Whitney or Bobby Ryan?

Local Sports Merchandise Store create a Female Hockey Fan Section!

I am always on the look out for female hockey fan friendly establishments, and Rocky Mountain Sports Marketing is one to watch. Inside the store is a growing section of fun hockey merchandise for women. And it includes copies of Hockey and High Heels, too!

This is a cell phone pic, but I will be heading there today to see if there is any new stock in. They also stock jerseys (International and NHL) flags, souvenirs including pucks, autographed memorabilia and some cool hockey art.
Check them out in International Village next to Starbucks on the corner of Keefer and Abbott. Only one block from Canada Hockey Place!

What Would Quatchi Do?...2010 Olympic Price Gouging at Vancouver Restaurants

by Quatchi in Goal

If I were a restaurant owner, I wouldn't increase my prices unless costs were increased on me, and I wouldn't add an automatic gratuity to the bill. Instead I would give all of my staff a nice, fat cash bonus for their "Extra Olympic Efforts".

I would also read this informative Alexandra Gill article about dining in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter  Olympic Games. It's written by a foodie here for the food, and not the sport. Go figure, eh?

What Vancouver 2010 Would Look Like with Snow....

by Lisa Ovens

Well, the recent weather issues in Vancouver during the Winter Games should alter the whole "Canadians live in Igloos" stereotype rather nicely, dontcha think?

Do you know how many people from other provinces live in Vancouver? Take one guess as to why many of them move here. If you said the weather, you'd be correct.

But every now and then we get slammed with nasty weather and the city actually resembles the rest of Canada in the dead of winter. Last December and January (2008-09) it was one snowfall after another and Vancouver was buried. One year and one month ago I wrote a column about it because, well, it was epic snow for us. (Click here to read Lisa's Snow Rant)

Now please enjoy a few of photos of Vancouver all dressed up in a Winter Wonderland...

all photos by Lisa Ovens

The Life of Ice at the Olympic Level: Speed Skating

  Olympia Ice re-surfacer in colder times during Oval Opening Dec.2008 photo: Lisa Ovens

by Lisa Ovens

I wonder if Stephen Colbert has muttered this yet... “Those freakin’ Canadian Ice Holes and their crappy ice scraping machines...”

Geez, are we a bunch of “Iceholes” here in Vancouver or what. We built an Olympic speed skating oval a few feet from the water and our Canadian ice re-surfacing machine brand isn't cutting the mustard! As I wrote in the previous "The Life of Ice" article about hockey, there probably isn’t a sporting surface requiring more attention, equipment and expertise than ice.

And now the world know this, thanks to the troubles at the Richmond Olympic Oval, home to Olympic Speedskating during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Re-surfacing isn't the only variable affecting the ice: a packed house, hot lights, humidity in the air are also contributing to what some skaters are calling "slow ice". We can't change the humidity, but we can change one piece of equipment...


Californian built Zamboni to the Rescue!

I was surprised to learn this earlier today; a Zamboni from the Oval in Calgary was in transit to Vancouver and was expected to be in service for Wednesday's speedskating events. I guess what surprised me was that VANOC didn't have this speed skating oval friendly machine waiting in the wings last week.
After all, the oval's ice surface would cover approximately six international hockey ice sheets, it would only make sense to have the Winter Games supply cupboard stocked full of Zambonis.

I've always said Zamboni is the most popular word in hockey. And now it's the most popular word in speed skating!

Speaking of Zambonis, I think now is a great time to give readers a sneak peek at my latest book, Living Hockey. Here is an excerpt about zambonis taken from a chapter that examines hockey in California...

Zamboni

Destined to be a hit, by name alone, this marvel of ice technology was invented during the Forties by a man named, Frank J. Zamboni. He owned a very large ice rink in Southern California, aptly named Iceland, and in the name of efficiency, he created a vehicle that could drive onto the ice, scrape off a layer of tired old, carved up ice, and then spray hot water to smooth out the surface, filling any crevices in a valuable, time saving fashion.


Frank was an inventor, an innovator, with refrigeration in his blood. Quite often, those of us born in the age of Stainless Steele Sub Zeros have no clue what time was like before we existed, and heck, there was a lot of stuff to try for the first time, and then invent and perfect. And Frank ended up revolutionizing the quality of ice for hockey and skating with this very contraption.

Iceland, his ice rink in Paramount, California, became the testing grounds for the Zamboni vehicle. Slowly but surely this magically hypnotic vehicle that slowly circles the ice made the big time, and refreshed the ice for the first time in the NHL. The year was 1955. Why stop there, Zamboni? The Zamboni then found itself in the spotlight during International competition for the very first time in 1960 at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics.

Many years later, we still find the Zamboni taking the cue and setting the pace for relaxation during intermission, most likely capturing the attention of a three year old child in the crowd, a child who is just beginning to understand what hockey is. That child will never forget the Zamboni, and nor shall we.

Thanks, Frank.

Living Hockey is almost finished (2010 Winter Olympic chapter is a work in progress). If you'd like to be in loop on pre-sale information and other news, please join the mailing list by emailing info@hockeyandhighheels.com with "add me" in the subject line. Thank you for your interest!

The Life of Ice at the Olympic Level: Ice Hockey

             Canada Hockey Place (dressed up for Canucks though)    Lisa Ovens


by Lisa Ovens

In my first hockey book I wrote about hockey’s playing surface compared to the "fields" other team sports. The bottom line: there isn’t another playing surface as glorious as a sheet of ice. And there probably isn’t a surface requiring more attention, equipment and expertise than ice.

I sometimes think of ice as the seventh player on a hockey team. When the ice is great it helps the team, and when the ice sucks, well all kinds of quirky things can happen.

Good, hard ice improves a player’s speed while skating. Good, hard ice and hockey pucks are a terrific marriage: pucks passed and shot on good ice often go where the player intended it to go.

Have you ever skated on bad ice? Maybe your strides were sluggish or you fell down because your skate was caught in a crevice. I’m sure a tiny medical journal could be written on injuries to professional hockey players caused by the ice alone.


 puck photo: Andrew Lavigne

I remember reading an article somewhere about the ice at Canada Hockey Place in Vancouver (But it was about the Canucks, so at the time it was about GM Place; I will go through my mess of mags to find this article!) a few years ago and how arena operations took the ice maintenance to a higher level (think microbiology). It was discovered that Vancouver’s water was too pure to create a good, hard sheet of ice. So chemical testing was done on water used for freezing at other arenas known for great ice. Because of that testing, a formula was created to add to the water for freezing in Vancouver’s arena. Basically they made the water “dirtier” and the ice became harder. I have had the opportunity to skate on the ice at Canada Hockey Place many times over the years, and let me tell you, it is fantastically smooth and great for gliding!

The rink at Canada Hockey Place will see a lot of action during the 2010 Winter Olympic Ice Hockey tournaments, and thankfully, the men and women hockey players won’t have to be concerned about other events like concerts happening between Feb. 13th and Feb. 28th, 2010. Converting an arena to a concert venue can affect the ice because of beer and cola spills trickling through the floor boards. People, please remember that when your grooving and shaking it at a Beyonce show during hockey season!

Did You Know...Hockey Pucks are frozen for play. A small fridge is located in the penalty box of Canada Hockey Place. Pucks perform better when frozen.The average hockey game can see anywhere from 20-40 pucks used.

First Gold at Home in Canada: Where Were you When Bilodeau Did It?

                               photo: Lisa Ovens

by Lisa Ovens

Where was I? I was sitting in section 404 with my friend Michelle at the first Victory Ceremony in BC Place when CTV's Tamara Taggart announced "We have our first Gold!" The cheer was huge. Monday night's victory ceremony will be extra special for Alexandre Bilodeau, his family and all of those who attend and watch at home.

                               photo: Michelle Reaney

Sunday night's Victory Ceremony was extra special to watch for me as two Canadian women receive their medals for their performances: Jennifer Heil, Silver (Womens Moguls) and Bronze, Kristina Groves (Speed Skating 3000m). Jennifer Heil's was the first Canadian medal win at Vancouver 2010.

WOOOT!!!!

                               screen shot photo: Lisa Ovens

Kristina Groves squeaked into bronze at the 3000 m, but her strength is the 1500 m...Go Kristina GO!!

                               Photo: Lisa Ovens


Evening Highlights

It was BC night, and the audience was treated to video highlights of various British Columbian moments, activities, and local business people (think Jimmy Pattison) praising the province. The secrets of our lumber industry are no longer secrets after plenty of shots of wood in various stages at a mill played out on the big screen.

A vibrant performance from dancers and musicians representing several local cultures wowed the crowd.

During the medal ceremony, we bounced up to Whistler on screen to see the medal ceremonies up there. The Whistler staging is quite a bit more intimate than in Vancouver, and it looks great.

Makes me want to go there...real bad!

And then there was Nelly...

                                         screen shot photo: Lisa Ovens 

She's got it going on - Nelly Furtado shook it up apres medals, and the crowd of 22,000 felt pretty darn good about all of our homegrown talent! Nelly...love the earings, and you wore another great pair of heels!

photo: Lisa Ovens

My First Two Days at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Security Screenings and All!

by Lisa Ovens

My Good Deed: 5:00 PM Friday One hour before the opening Ceremony, I was buying pillows, blankets, towels and soap for a family of Olympic vacationers that checked into an under- equipped condo rental. Not quite what I was expecting to do at that time, but I was very happy to help them out. (Edit...I was just the personal shopping assistant, it wasn't my money paying for the supplies!)

5:30 PM Friday: walked through the blocks surrounding BC Place, site of the Opening Ceremony. The energy on the streets was amazing. At one point I had to walk through some protesters. I didn't blend in.

OPENING CEREMONY Arrived at my viewing post: sofa at cousin’s. As the ceremony went on I was surprised to see several ideas from my "If I was Producing the Ceremony" production list actually happened! Loved the production, especially the water, tree, mountain and spirit bear visuals. It all looked like home to me. I felt very proud for the Four Host Nations. Their welcome was stunning and the dance performance was fantastic!

Emotional during KD Lang’s performance: Hallelujah was played at my mother’s memorial service. She loved that song.

Still not sure about the spoken word segment, but it was very close to my “standup comedy” idea on my ceremony production list.

My cousin Jen predicts Celine Dion will perform My Heart Will Go On at the Closing Ceremony.

Thrilled to see Haley Wickeneiser take the Athlete’s Oath.

Completely humbled by the moment of silence for Nodar Kumaritashvili , and more humbled by the composure of Team Georgia. In sympathy.

Heavily sighed for the director and the torch bearers when the fourth “log” of the interior Caldron didn’t deploy.

Felt lonely for the Great One ( Wayne Gretzky) riding in the back of the pick up truck all by himself...too bad Bobby Orr couldn’t have went along for the ride.

Boy the media sure is important: They get the outside caldron close to their International Broadcast Centre. When you think about it, this is pretty silly. With so much is happening along the shores of False Creek: BC Place, Canada Hockey Place, a gaggle of hospitality houses, the Athlete's Village, they couldn't find a spot there? (The media was also in mind when VANOC selected the snow challenged Cyrpress Mountain because they'd get pretty visuals of the city and the ocean from up there. That's the extent of what John Furlong said the other day.)

Saturday Woke up too early, but had to get up. Packed up my “game gear” and headed downtown. Went to my friend Andrew’s: KD Lang’s performance from the night before is on the TV. I feel warm and happy to hear it again. Andrew is producing a documentary titled With Glowing Hearts so I tagged along with him on a brief shoot. Got to carry some audio equipment, launching me to production assistant status for 10 minutes.

Went to super cute, outdoor coffee cabin next to CBC Studios (it has a living roof and a pitcher of water and glasses on the counter at the ready for non coffee drinkers like me!) Saw the boys from Hockey Night in Canada’s Satellite Hotstove segment on stools talking hockey for the cameras.

Was lucky to attend the opening hockey game at Canada Hockey Place. Uh oh...time for a tiny rant.
 
Lisa's Tiny Rant
 
Security Screening Tents for Canada Hockey Place: UNDER UTILIZED!!!
 
Andrew and I walked to the east side line up for security screening and the line up was long. We headed over to the West side which wasn't as busy, but it was slow moving. Found out my small, fun fur backpack was too large for the express line. When asked what size a small bag is, I was told "like the size of a loaf of bread." Huh?  Anyway, I saw five screening tents available, and at 4:20pm they only had two tents open for screening. The game was starting at 5pm. Sure, the number of ticket holders is significantly smaller than for a BC Place event, but come on VANOC...you have five tents, use all five tents at the same time, everytime.

VANOC, don't you realize the longer the fans are waiting in line, the less money they are spending inside the venue?!!! End tiny rant.

Please note hockey fans attending games at Canada Hockey Place: There are only two entrances being used before games and two exits:

Entrances:  Eastside check point and security line up appears at Abbott and Keefer Street. West side appears  near Nelson and Beatty street in a parking lot next to BC Place. This is also where the Will Call Ticket Booth is.

After going through the Westside Check point, the walk to Canada Hockey Place was a long one, involving four relatively long flights of stairs and overhead walkways at various points.

Exits: Only two exit routes are used after the game; everyone leaves via the exit doors on the 300 level, closest to both Georgia St. and Dunsmuir St. viaducts, your  east and west exit routes into the city.

During the game: With new Coca Cola displays everywhere, various other temporary walls installed, the concourse becomes a little more crowded than at a Canucks game. The Canucks Team store is now like a mini Olympic superstore/  Team Canada store which looks great! Plus there are also various international items available for other teams in the tournaments.

Smokers will be happy: I guess due to IOC rules, smoking is permitted outside on certain patios (smoking has been banned on patios at Canucks games, and all other events at the venue for the last two seasons)

The Canada / Slovakia women's hockey game deserves its own column to I'll stop this one here.

With My Glowing Heart...

by Lisa Ovens

...I feel like I travelled the land and back, met everyone along the way, smiled with them, cheered with them and made it right back here to Yaletown, all in about three hours.

The visual element of the Olympic Opening Ceremony at Vancouver 2010 captured the spirit of my home on the west coast, and my journeys across Canada. And on that note, I am going to relax and have a beer and report more tomorrow!

Cheers World!

Lisa O.

and from Jen and Joe :o)

For a Live look at Vancouver's Robson Square..please click here, you gotta be here

The 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Vancouver

photo taken just over a year ago on Jan.21, 2009

by Lisa Ovens
I've been going through some of the notes I wrote after the Closing Ceremony in Torino 2006.

A shockwave had rolled over Vancouver and the rest of Canada after witnessing a brief “sample of Canada” presented in Torino. Plenty of critics showed up leaving everyone wondering if Vancouver 2010’s ceremony would cut it as far as big spectacles go.

And then the most recent Olympics in Beijing 2008 didn’t help: their ceremony was over the top! Going back to my notes, I had made a list of things I would do if I were in charge of the ceremony in BC Place. I have been to plenty of events there; Pink Floyd, U2, Rolling Stones, U2 again, and more, including the very first concert held in the Dome: David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and the Tubes (I was a younger kid then.) If Robert LePage was available (he’s done some amazing Peter Gabriel tours, and other grand installations), I would hire him to produce the show (but as it turned out, we have the Australian, David Atkins in charge. Though Robert LePage is part of the cultural Olympiad: The Blue Dragon).)

Over the last few days I have done my best to avoid any of the “reports on the ceremony” from people who attended the dress rehearsals. If I feel someone is about to say too much I stop them in their tracks. I haven’t seen any photos or videos leaked. All I have is my list of what I would do, so here it is.

My Opening Ceremony Production List

-Interior should be completely white, with lots of ice inside...minimalist looking, like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.

-Ban anything resembling a Styrofoam tree, rock, or mountain top. Unless you are staring the natural beauty of Canada straight in the face, you’d best be experiencing the landscape shot on high definition cameras and projected onto the best damn screens money can buy.

-Go easy on anything to do with ice fishing.

-Incorporate boats into the show. (Ever since I went to a boat show in BC Place, I ‘ve always felt boats, especially big boats look really cool inside, with no water around.) Sail boats have a dramatic look at times. And I love they way they look dotting the ocean in Burrard Inlet on windy days.

-Get Celine Dion and tenor Ben Heppner to sing. Ben Heppner studied music at the University of British Columbia. (Sadly Heppner is in Germany right now performing)

-There should be some light comedy performed. Okay, this might sound crazy, but if there is one thing Canada is known for is producing funny people. I figure a little comedy would be nice, and a little different than other opening ceremonies. Imagine an MC working the crowd of famous people in attendance, sort of like how some Academy Awards show hosts do ;o)

-The torch bearer that lights the cauldron should be a man and a woman if possible. If hockey is defining us as a culture right now, then make it Wayne Gretzky and Cassie Campbell. (I thought this up until Cassie was in the Torch Relay on Prince Edward Island in November)

Well those were some of my ideas, I'll know soon if any of them come true. There are plenty of people out there still not comfortable with Australians pulling the strings for the 2010 ceremonies. All I can say is crikey to that!

Today is the big day. I will not be attending the opening ceremonies in person. I will be a few blocks away from BC Place at my cousin Jen’s watching on television. I can hardly wait. This is a big one on the Olympic schedule, and for some I imagine it will be a huge relief when it is over. Best of luck to all the ceremony organizers, and performers; I am sure you will all do us proud!

Let the Games begin!

The Olympic Torch Relay Comes to Kerrisdale

By Lisa Ovens

Okay, I’m sure many out of town 2010 and High Heels readers are wondering where is Kerrisdale and what does this mean? Well the worldwide Hockey & High Heels headquarters is located in Kerrisdale! The Olympic Torch Relay will ran through my neighborhood late afternoon on Thursday February 11th. The streets were crowded. As you can see I didn't get a good position to take a photo (took me a little while to get back here from the Linden torch run).

I did like this flag display located at West Boulevard and West 41st Avenue intersection. We have a Canada flag, a Greece flag, and a blast from the past: the Vancouver Candidate City logo flag.

About Kerrisdale... I noticed that the Olympic Edition of the Tourism Vancouver guide failed to mention the Village of Kerrisdale in the editorial section describing Vancouver neighborhoods, I figured I would do everyone a favor and gush about my hood here. For starters Kerrisdale was named after a Scottish town named Kerry Dale which means “the seats of fairies”- I was meant to live here :o)

For the history portion...my beautiful Aunty Donetta was crowned Miss Kerrisdale 1949! The city of Vancouver’s first ever rock and roll concert happened at the legendary Kerrisdale Arena in 1956: the band...Bill Haley and the Comets. Kerrisdale Arena also played host to many other shows establishing it as a kick ass smaller venue for touring bands in the 60’s 70’s and early 80’s. Bands like the Yardbirds, Frank Zappa, Devo, Motorhead and the Clash blew off the roof of the hockey arena. Actually it would be the Motorhead show that ended the live rock fun because the concert was so loud and it attracted a pretty hardcore, hard partying crowd to the tony neighborhood.

2010 Olympic enthusiasts that might be looking for a break from the insanity that will be downtown Vancouver and the Richmond Ozone might consider visiting Kerrisdale. It’s about half way between downtown Vancouver and Richmond and it is easy to get to. It’s on the 41 bus route (heading west, it goes to UBC, site for Olympic Hockey) which stops at the Oakridge Canada Line stop. You can also hop on the number 16 Arbutus bus from downtown and it will bring you right into the heart of Kerrisdale.

Considered one of North America’s most affluent neighborhoods, Kerrisdale boasts a fine little intersection of specialty shops, restaurants and services. It is also home to one of my favorite cupcakes: The Happy Cupcake, found only at Bean Brother’s Café. It’s a good old fashioned cupcake, and it’s cheerful as can be. It  feels like it weighs about a pound so it will last a couple of days, too (I’ve never attempted eating a whole one in one sitting). Yes as you can see in the photo, it’s so big it can’t stand up by itself like the other popular cupcakes in this city (Cupcakes by Lori, Big City Cupcakes, Butter) At $3.95...it’s a pretty good value.

If you like burgers and shakes, try them out at the Red Onion, a Kerrisdale institution that often makes the “Top Burger lists". If tea is your thing then hit the Secret Garden Tea Company. And then shop till you drop at Hills of Kerrisdale if Juicy Couture and Michael Kors are your thing. There’s a British style pub, The Cheshire Cheese Inn, the local watering hole for sports on the tube.

The Kerrisdale Community Centre will have a “living room” set up for everything Olympics and will be a comfy gathering place for all neighbors to hang out.

And who knows...you just might see me hovering around the Happy Cupcakes!